NHTSA Complaint #11138995 — 2015 FORD ESCAPE

SHIFTER CABLE BUSHINGS PROBLEM! I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE AT THE GROCERY STORE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING A CUSTOMER BEHIND ME. MY SHIFTER WAS IN PARK, BUT THE DASHBOARD SAID I WAS IN REVERSE. I WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF AND HAD TO WAIT HOURS FOR A TOW. NOW I'M WITHOUT A CAR TO GET TO WORK. WHAT IF I HIT THE LADY THAT WAS WALKING BEHIND ME? THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE AND I TRUST THAT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, AND GET MY CAR BACK SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK. VERY SCARY AND SO THANKFUL THIS DIDNT RESULT IN DAMAGE OR INJURY. THE BUSHING THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFTER CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A DEGRADED SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING THAT DETACHES FROM THE TRANSMISSION ALLOWED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN A GEAR STATE DIFFERENT THAN THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION SELECTED DRIVER. THE CONDITION ALLOWED DRIVER TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO 'PARK' AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE IN 'PARK,' WITH NO WARNING MESSAGE OR AUDIBLE CHIME. IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, A DEGRADED SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING THAT DETACHES FROM THE TRANSMISSION COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR CRASH.